Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 21

कामाश्रम

प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence

Devanagari script

तत्र वासिभिरानीता मुनिभिस्सुव्रतै: सह।न्यवसन् सुसुखं तत्र कामाश्रमपदे तदा।।।।

Transliteration

tatra vāsibhir ānītā munibhiḥ suvrataiḥ saha |

nyavasan susukhaṃ tatra kāmāśramapade tadā ||

Translation

അവിടത്തെ വാസികൾ സുവ്രതന്മാരായ മുനികളോടുകൂടെ അവരെ അവിടെ കൊണ്ടുവന്നു; അപ്പോൾ കാമാശ്രമസ്ഥാനത്ത് അവർ അത്യന്തം സന്തോഷത്തോടെ പാർത്തു.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• vāsibhiḥ: by the residents/dwellers
• vāsibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ānītāḥ: (having been) brought
• ānītāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√nī (नी) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agreeing with implied subject (Rāma-Lakṣmaṇa etc.)

• munibhiḥ: with/by sages
• munibhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• suvrataiḥ: of good vows/strictly vowed
• suvrataiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: su + vrata; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying munibhiḥ

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; preposition-like particle expressing accompaniment (सहयोग)

• nyavasan: they dwelt/stayed
• nyavasan: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vas (वस्)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• susukham: very happily/comfortably
• susukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su-sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; manner adverb (प्रकार)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place

• kāmāśramapade: in the place of Kāma’s hermitage
• kāmāśramapade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma-āśrama-pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (multi-member): kāmasya āśrama-padam; Napumsaka, Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time

Context

Exceedingly delighted to see the sacred hermitage, the two princes enquired from the illustrious sage Viswamitra:

Characters & Entities

• Kāma (as hermitage eponym)
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma appears as hospitality and communal care: residents and sages receive travelers properly, ensuring safe and content lodging.

What is the narrative situation?

The party is welcomed by the hermitage community and stays happily at the hermitage-site associated with Kāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guest-care (ātithi-satkāra) and harmony—an āśrama community living by vows and service.